“I have no desire to be murdered or sold into slavery, so I haven’t been looking for a husband.” Sebastian shuddered at the memory of Ophelia’s horrified face as she gazed into his future. He pulled a chair away from another game table, slid it behind James, and sat on it, using his cloak as a pillow. “I decided to put aside my gold until Ophelia can be properly looked after, and then I’ll open my own bookshop.”
“How long will that take? Why don’t you make Mother and Father care for her like they’re supposed to instead?” Kevin moved another piece and frowned after seeing the trap he had fallen into. “Sneaky bastard.”
James sighed. “I’m sorry, Sebastian. I can’t have Ophelia in an inn where there are so many people. She would be in danger, and she hates crowds.”
“She’s never blamed you, and it’s pointless to give up your livelihood when it’s something you’re good at.” When they weren’t talking about his love life, it was relaxing to sit among his brothers. At home, all it takes is a card game to turn us into beasts. “And you have a baby on the way. He or she is going to keep you busy as it is.”
“You’re going to stay at home and rot?” Kevin asked.
“Maybe not for long. Did either of you know that Ophelia is in love with someone?” Kevin’s and James’s heads snapped in Sebastian’s direction.
“Who is he and for how long?” James broke the shocked silence.
“I don’t know for both questions. Margaret told me. I don’t think it’s someone who’s a threat, or she would have taken care of the problem herself,” Sebastian said. Forgive me, Ophelia, but I need them off my back, and I didn’t tell them who I suspect.
James ran his hand through his hair. “You play hero and Ophelia is in a mysterious romance. Any more surprises?”
“I’ve barely convinced Kraven not to elope.”
“Arrgh!” Kevin swept his pieces off the board. “I’m done, and not because you pulled that scheme out of your ass, James. How the hell am I supposed to think when you drop this in my hands?”
James gathered the pieces together and put them in a wooden box. “I still call foul, liar.”
“I came here to ask for your help, James. And since you want to put your nose in my business too, Kevin, wouldn’t your time be best spent helping somebody who wants it?”
James crossed his arms but nodded for Sebastian to continue.
“He’s met a servant woman, and he wants to marry her. Unfortunately, he stupidly loaned Mother most of his money, and he doesn’t have much to offer a bride.”
“What’s she like?” Kevin asked.
“She seems nice and has a decent head on her shoulders.”
“Anything weird about her?” James asked.
Sebastian sighed. “There’s goblin in her bloodline, so her lifespan matches ours. Other than that, she’s perfectly normal.”
“Mother will sabotage it, and Father will figure out a way to offend her parents,” Kevin promised.
“I know.” Sebastian pitched his voice higher to mimic their mother. “You may marry a commoner, but Gods, not a boring person.”
“I’ll talk to the girl’s parents in secret, and Kevin and I will put up money for the wedding. Ellie’s a hopeless romantic like me, so she won’t need much persuasion to have the wedding here,” James offered.
“What do we do with you after we take care of them?” Kevin asked, refusing to drop the subject.
“Tell your friends about my bookshop when I start it.” Sebastian winked at his brothers.
“On another topic, why would you let Father run amok at the castle without any trustworthy sibling to hold his hand?” James asked.
“Harold can’t put up his stand at the festival this year, so I decided to help him. I want the experience and profits, and I’ll have neither if I’m always the one controlling Father,” Sebastian said.
“But he might have been manageable if you had waited at the castle.” James frowned at Sebastian. “And this business with
“How long will that take? Why don’t you make Mother and Father care for her like they’re supposed to instead?” Kevin moved another piece and frowned after seeing the trap he had fallen into. “Sneaky bastard.”
James sighed. “I’m sorry, Sebastian. I can’t have Ophelia in an inn where there are so many people. She would be in danger, and she hates crowds.”
“She’s never blamed you, and it’s pointless to give up your livelihood when it’s something you’re good at.” When they weren’t talking about his love life, it was relaxing to sit among his brothers. At home, all it takes is a card game to turn us into beasts. “And you have a baby on the way. He or she is going to keep you busy as it is.”
“You’re going to stay at home and rot?” Kevin asked.
“Maybe not for long. Did either of you know that Ophelia is in love with someone?” Kevin’s and James’s heads snapped in Sebastian’s direction.
“Who is he and for how long?” James broke the shocked silence.
“I don’t know for both questions. Margaret told me. I don’t think it’s someone who’s a threat, or she would have taken care of the problem herself,” Sebastian said. Forgive me, Ophelia, but I need them off my back, and I didn’t tell them who I suspect.
James ran his hand through his hair. “You play hero and Ophelia is in a mysterious romance. Any more surprises?”
“I’ve barely convinced Kraven not to elope.”
“Arrgh!” Kevin swept his pieces off the board. “I’m done, and not because you pulled that scheme out of your ass, James. How the hell am I supposed to think when you drop this in my hands?”
James gathered the pieces together and put them in a wooden box. “I still call foul, liar.”
“I came here to ask for your help, James. And since you want to put your nose in my business too, Kevin, wouldn’t your time be best spent helping somebody who wants it?”
James crossed his arms but nodded for Sebastian to continue.
“He’s met a servant woman, and he wants to marry her. Unfortunately, he stupidly loaned Mother most of his money, and he doesn’t have much to offer a bride.”
“What’s she like?” Kevin asked.
“She seems nice and has a decent head on her shoulders.”
“Anything weird about her?” James asked.
Sebastian sighed. “There’s goblin in her bloodline, so her lifespan matches ours. Other than that, she’s perfectly normal.”
“Mother will sabotage it, and Father will figure out a way to offend her parents,” Kevin promised.
“I know.” Sebastian pitched his voice higher to mimic their mother. “You may marry a commoner, but Gods, not a boring person.”
“I’ll talk to the girl’s parents in secret, and Kevin and I will put up money for the wedding. Ellie’s a hopeless romantic like me, so she won’t need much persuasion to have the wedding here,” James offered.
“What do we do with you after we take care of them?” Kevin asked, refusing to drop the subject.
“Tell your friends about my bookshop when I start it.” Sebastian winked at his brothers.
“On another topic, why would you let Father run amok at the castle without any trustworthy sibling to hold his hand?” James asked.
“Harold can’t put up his stand at the festival this year, so I decided to help him. I want the experience and profits, and I’ll have neither if I’m always the one controlling Father,” Sebastian said.
“But he might have been manageable if you had waited at the castle.” James frowned at Sebastian. “And this business with
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